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The Beauty Of Coming Back: The Ups and Downs of Long Term Travel

Having the ability to travel the world is something that is a luxury that is not afforded to everyone. Being able to see and experience new places is a complete blessing that should not be taken in stride. In the last month, I was in constant movement, traveling for both work and pleasure but in that time, I became aware of the many affects that “long term travel” can have. I know that for some, one month is not a long time as they are always on the move, but for me… it was a lot.

Moving through different cities, 15 times in one month was an amazing learning experience and here’s some advice from what I’ve learned.

UP: New Places Leads To Unforgettable Stories + Relationships

Traversing through new locations leads to different stories and memories for years to come. Being able to explore new places and even revisiting old ones will allow for one to enjoy and reflect on all that this world has to offer. If solo travel is your thing, which I highly recommend for many different reasons, you are also apt to meet many different types of people who you might not have met otherwise. In the past month, I’ve gotten to know individuals from all over the world, living their truths and finding themselves. They have not only inspired me in their own ways, but it has also been a humbling reminder of the beauty that we can find in humanity.

DOWN: Your Body Gets Tired and Needs To Readjust

Moving through different countries and time zones really takes a toll on your body. You need time to adjust, but you also want to make the most of your time in a new location. Sleeping on trains, planes and buses isn’t the most conducive but when you’re overwhelmed with the excitement of travel, it doesn’t matter that much. After arriving back home, I had an opportunity to slow down and recuperate and it was then that I realized… my body needed more rest than I thought it did. After about a week of slowly getting back into the swing of normal life, I’ve adjusted back to my daily routine and my cuerpo is a happy camper.

UP: Your Social Media Feed Starts to Blow Up

People love to see travel photos, point blank. During my time on the move, Instagram gets more exciting and engagement goes through the roof. It’s a wonderful way to capture different cultures and scenery from places around the world that opens up opportunities to engage with international audiences. Let’s be honest, a photo of ancient monasteries in Pamplona is a lot more exciting than a coffee cup and tostada. Although social media sharing can be inspiring, I encourage everyone to keep in mind that life isn’t just about the Instagram photos. Take advantage of capturing and sharing your memories, but also, take some time without cameras and screens and live in the present moment.

DOWN: You Might Be Missing Out On Local Culture + Events

I’ll be real. Although I love travel, I’m very much a homebody. Something that I made sure when moving back to Spain was that I wanted to be fully immersed in the culture of my town. Living in Murcia has allowed me to make meaningful connections on many different levels and with that comes, being very in tune with the Spanish culture and events that go on in the area. When I was gone for the month, I missed out on some amazing happenings in the city from Bando de la Huerta which is the famed Spring festival to one of my favorite monthly get-togethers, La Sobremesa. Even though I was enjoying many different cultural events in different spaces, a piece of my heart was at home in Murcia with the locals.

UP: Come Back Home Feeling Inspired

We travel to feel inspired. We explore the world to find ourselves and connect with other individuals that push us to be our best selves. Each of us travels for different reasons but at the end of the day, we return home motivated and inspired to continue pushing towards being the best version of ourselves. After all of the trips that I went on, I came home feeling not only motivated but also renewed. Travel had allowed me to learn about myself and grow in ways that I wouldn’t have been able to imagine.

All in all, being on the road definitely has its ups and downs but it’s something that should be appreciated in the end.

What do you love about long-term travel? What is your favorite part about coming back home?

Sienna Brown is the founder of Las Morenas de España. From New York to Murcia, Spain, she is constantly on a journey to inspire and be inspired while engaging in different methods of creation. Her passion for learning about others leads her towards constant exploration and practicing the art of listening as much as she can. See more of her work here and follow her adventures on instagram.